Transfer mechanism.



C. D. YOUNG. TRANSFER MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. i911.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHET l- INVENTOR KM M C. D. YOUNG.

TRANSFER MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIO. 1911.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- g INZPJTOR 2% COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH couwnsmmiroN. D1c.

C. D. YOUNG.

TRANSFER MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. 1911.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (IO-.WASHINGTON, D. c.

Patented NOV. 16, 1915.

4 $HEET$SHEET 4.

WITNESSES COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH :0. WASHINGTON, u. c,

TRANSFER MECHANISM.

Application filed May 10, 1911.

To all to hem, it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES D. YOUNG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Transfer Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to transfer mechanism and primarily to transfer mechanism for use in connection with an automatic stoker, for transferring the fuel from the tender of a locomotive to the locomotive firebox. The invention has for its principal ob jects; the provision of an improved arrange-- ment of feed chutes for supplying a plurality of underfeed stoker troughs in the locomotive fire-box; the provision of an improved form of increment feeding plunger for supplying fuel from the tenderto the transfer chutes; the provision of an improved door arrangement for controlling the supply of fuel from the tender to the transfer chutes; and the provision of a simplified and improved arrangement of connections for securing the actuation of the various parts of the feed mechanism from a main cross-head. One embodiment of the invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a, longitudinal section through the apparatus as applied to'a locomotive and tender, Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan View of the various operating connections, Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of thetransfer mechanism on the tender and locomotive, the feed chutes being removed, but their position with respect to the mechanism shown being indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 4 is a plan view of the transfer chutes, Fig. 5 is a section on the line VV of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a section on the line VIV1 of Fig. 1, Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the front end of the transfer chute, and Fig. 8 is a two part section through the transfer mechanism, the

left hand half being taken on the line- VIIIVIH of Fig. 1, and the right hand half being taken on the line VIIIVIII.

This apparatus is designed to be used in connection with stoker mechanism, such as that shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 626,376, filed May 10, 1911, in which three underfeed troughs are provided, such troughs being fed by a main piston at the front end of each trough, and by three auxiliary pistons arranged in series in each trough, the right hand end; of the section Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 626,377.

shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the arrangement of the auxiliary pistons in one of the three feed troughs.

Referring to the general arrangement of parts as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4; the parts may be enumerated as follows; 1 is the firebox of the locomotive; 2 is one of the underfeed troughs in such fire-box, which troughs are provided with the auxiliary feed pistons 3; 4, 5 and 6 arethe main feed pistons for supplying fuel to the front ends of the feed troughs, such feed pistons working in the cylinders 7 8 and 9 (Fig. 3); 10 is a cross head directly connected to the three pistons 4:, 5 and 6 and slidably guided and supported in the cylinders 7, 8 and 9; 11 and 12 are steam engines mounted upon the frame of the locomotive, and providing the power for the actuation of the entire stoker and transfer mechanism; 13 is a transfer shaft provided with the cranks 1 1 and 15 connected to the pistons of the engines 11 and 12; 16 and 17 are rocker arms carried by the shaft 13 and connected at their upper ends to the cross head by means of the connecting rods 18 and 19; 20 and 21 are connecting rods pivoted at their front ends to the cross head 10 and at their rear ends to the frame- ]Patented Nov. 16,1915.

work 22 which actuates the auxiliary pisthe cross head 10 by means of the connect ing rods 27 and 28; 29 is a door slidably mounted beneath the plate 25 and operable to control the supply of fuel by means of the handle 30; 31 are feed fingers (Fig. 1) mounted for reciprocation in the feed chutes and adapted to give the fuel in such chutes a step-by-step movement, in a manner well known in the art; and 32 is a piston or plunger mounted to reciprocate in the chutes and to give the fuel its preliminary forward movement therein.

The ends of the chutes 23 and 21 are so arranged as to discharge to the three hoppers 33, 3e and 35 as indicated in Figs. 3 and 1. This is accomplished by flaring the ends of the chutes and providing the deflecting, members 86 and 37, so arranged that the same amount of fuel is fed through the passage 38 as is fed through the passages 39 and 40. The deflectors 36 and 37 are pyramidal members built up of sheet-metal plates. As indicated in Fig. 4 the troughs 23 and 24 are spaced apart and held rigidly in their relative positions by means of the plates 41, 42 and 43, thetroughs being otherwise open upon their tops. tion of the feed flaps 31 in the chutes is secured by means of the side bars 44 (Figs.

'4 and 8), which side bars are mounted for longitudinalreciprocation, and carry transverse shafts3l, which in turn carry the flaps 31, the flaps being provided with ribs 45 upon their rear sides (Fig. 5), which ribs act as stop members as indicated in Fig. 7 taking against transverse bars 46 and pre venting the flaps from moving farther to the rear than, the position in Fig. 7. The

rear ends of the reciprocatory bars 44 carry the piston 32, so that such piston reciprocates in unison with the feed members 31.

The reciprocation of the bars 44 is se-- cured by means of the plate 47 (Fig. 4),. which plate ll extends clear across the two,

chutes and is securely riveted to each of the four bars 44. On the underside of the plate between'the chutes is riveted a casting '48 provided with a fork 49, which fork 49 is engaged by the connecting rod 50. (Figs. 1 and 3). The connecting rod 50 has itsother end and 2. As indicated in Figs. 2, 3

pivoted to a lever 51 carriedat its lower end inbrackets 52. supported upon the frame (Figs. 1 and 8), and at its upper end is provided with a fork in which is pivoted the end of the connecting rod 52, the other end of such connecting rod 52 being pivoted to the cross-head 10 as indicated in Figs. 1

and 8 the plate 25 which acts as a feeding and crushing piston or plunger is provided with two openings 53 and 54 separated by the partition 55, the said opening being adapted to register with the opening 24 when the plate is iinits retracted position as indicated in Fig. 1. At this time the outlet from thetender to the chutes is entirely closed off by the front edge 56 (Fig. 1) of'the plate25. 'When the plate 25 moves to the left, the charge of coal in the two openings 53 and54 is carried to the left, the larger chunks being crushed against the edge 57 of the opening 24, and

' this charge, being carried out past the edge The reciprocafurnished by the apparatus without chang ing its speed or stroke, the door 29 is provided, which door is slidably mounted. in the casting 61 in the manner indicated in Fig. 8. A transverse bar 62 is secured to the bottom of this door, and this transverse bar or rod has pivoted to each of its ends, a connecting rod 63 (Figs. 1 and 8), such connecting. rods being'pivo'ted at'their other ends to the upright cranks'64. The lower ends of these cranks 64 are keyed to atransverse shaft 65 (Fig. 8), so that the two cranks may be rocked in unison, and one of these cranks has pivoted adjacent its upperend a connecting rod 66, the other end of which is connected to a bell crank lever 67. This bell crank lever is operated by the handle 30, which handle 30 is guided vertically and providedwith the usual means for looking it in any desired position. 7 i Bythis means the door 29 may be shifted to any desired position, and the feed to the chutes regulated. WVith the door in the position shown in Fig. 1, a maximum feed is allowed, and this feed may .be' reduced by moving the door to the left. The door is supported at its front end by atransverse bar 68 over which the door slides. rangement of door beneath the plunger or plate 25 is advantageous over the old style arrangement with the door above the plate or plunger for several reasons. In the first place, there is no necessity of slotting the door to receive the agitators 60, as is the case when the door is above the plunger, in the second place thefront edge of the door never has to bear the weight of the mass of coal in the tender, when such door is'partially open, as'is the case where the door is above theplunger, and in the third place, the door always forms a closure for the opening 24when the apparatus is not in operation, which 1s not the casein the old arrangement with the door above the plunger, asin such old construction the door had to be moved from operative to closed position in order to close oil the passage from thetender when the mechanism was not working. The use of a single discharge opening 24' and the single plate 25 with the plurality of openings, instead of a plurality of discharge openings and a plurality of plates is advantageous, as the tendency of the coal to bridge is eliminated, due to the fact that the area over which the bridge would have to extend is multiplied, and to the fact that the division member 55 between the openings moves and thus forms an unstable support for the coal.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 2 that framework 22 carrying auxiliary pistons 3 being directly connected thereto by means of the connecting rods 21, pistons 4, 5 and 6 This arhoppers being carried directly upon such cross-head, the plate 25 being directly connected with such cross-head by means of the connecting rods 27 and 28, and the central portion of the cross-head being directly connected to the forwarding means in the chutes by means of the rod 52. The cross head is curely guided and maintained in position by the cylinders carrying the pistons 4, and 6. and it will be seen that the connections from the cross head to the parts operated there by are so symmetrically arranged that there is no tendency to twist the cross head from the position shown. Power is also applied to such cross-head directly by reason of, the use of the two pistons 11 and 12 instead of the single cylinder heretofore used, and by reason of the location of the operating cranks 16 and 17 in corresponding positions inside the outer pistons 4i and 6,

The operation may be briefly described as follows: Steam being applied to the engines 11 and 1.2, the cranks Hand are rocked, thus rocking the shaft 13 and the rocker arms 16 and 17. The connections 18 and 19 between the rocker arms and the cross head 10 secure the actuation of such cross head and with it the main pistons, l, 5 and 6. The rocking of this cross-head similarly rocks the frame 22. carrying the auxiliary pistons 3 byreason of the connections 20 and 21. This movement'of the cross head 10 also secures the reciprocation of the plate or plunger 25 by reason of the connections 27, 2G and 28, as well as the oscillation of the bars l l carrying the feed flaps 31 and the piston by reason of the connections 50, 51 and 52; Charges of coal are thus fed intermittently and crushed by the plate 25, such charges dropping into the hopper 58 in front of the pistons 32, and being forwarded step-by-step to the chutes and 24: until the ends of such chutes are reached at which time it is discharged through the passages 38 3t) and 40 into the and 3), above the pistons 4-, 5 and 6, which pistons feed the coal into the troughs 2 in the furnace. This fuel is fed through the troughs and agitated therein by means of the plungers 3-33 acting in conjunction with the main plungers l, 5 and 6 at the ends of the troughs. The engines 11 and 12 are preferably operated from single valve mechanism located upon one of the engines, so that a synchronous operation of the pistons is z ssured.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the following 1. In combination in automatic stoker feed mechanism for locomotives, three feed cylinders for feeding fuel to the troughs of an underfeed. stoker, a piston in each cylinder, a cross head mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of the cylinders and having con nection with the pistons, and means for supplying fuel to the cylinders comprising a pair of feed chutes spaced apart and each having a passage leading to the central feed cylinder and a passage leading to an outside feed cylinder, and means in the chutes for forwarding the fuel.

2. In combination in automatic stoker feed mechanism for locomotives, three feed cylinders for feeding fuel to the troughs of an underfeed stoker, a piston in each cylinder, a cross head mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of the cylinders and ha ing connection with the pistons, and means for supplying fuel to the cylinders comprising a pair, of feed chutes spaced apart and each having a passage leading to the central feed cylinder and a passage leading to an outside feed cylinder, feeding means in the chutes, and operating means therefor connected to the cross head and lying between the chutes.

3. In combination in automatic Stoker feed mechanism for locomotives, three feed cylinders for feeding fuel to the troughs o an underfecd stolrer, a piston in each. cy inder, a cross head mounted to reciprocate longitudinally of the cylinders and having connection with the pistons, and means for supplying fuel to the cylinders conr prising a pair of-feed chutes spaced apart and each having its front end flared so as to, discharge both to the middle cylinder and an outer cylinder, defl ctors in front of the flared ends for guiding the fuel, and reciprocatory means in tllECl'lUti3S for forwarding the fuel.

4. In combination in automatic stoke]- feed mechanism for locomotives, three feed cylinders for feeding fuel to the troug is of an under-feed stolrer, a piston in each cylinder, a cross head mounted to reciprocate lon gitudinally of the cylinders and having con nection with the pistons, and means for supplying fuel to the cylinders comprising a pair of feed chutes spaced apart and each having a passage leading to the central feed cylinder and a passage leading to an outside feed cylinder, reciprocatory feed bars at the sides of the chutes, feed flaps carried thereby, a plate extending over the tops of both chutes and connected to the feed bars, and means for reciprocating the said plate, such means lying between the chutes and being connected to move with the cross head. i

1 In. combination in automatic stoker feed mechanism for locomotives, a plurality of feed cylinders on the locomotive for feeding fuel to thetroughs of an under-feed stoker, a piston in each cylinder, a cross head for reciprocating the pistons, and means for supplying fuel to the cylinders comprising a pair of feed chutes spaced apart and each having a flared end adapted to feed to a plurality of feed cylinders, a

pair of discharge passages from the tender to the rear ends of the chutes, a single piston working through both passages, and connections for operating the'said single piston with the cross-head.

6, In combination in automatic stoker feed mechanism for locomotives, a plurality of feed cylinders on the locomotive for feeding fuel to the troughs of an underfeed stoker, a piston in each cylinder, a crosshead for reciprocating the pistons, and

, means for supplying fuel to the cylinders COHlDIlSlIlg a pair of feed chutes spaced apart and each having a flared end adapted to feed to a plurality of feed cylinders, a discharge passage fro-m the tender to the rear ends of the chutes, a single plunger working through the passage, a transverse bar pivoted intermediate its ends to the rear end of thesaid single, plunger, and a pair of substantially parallel connecting rods pivoted to the ends of said bar and to the cross-head.

7. In combination in apparatus for'sup plying coal to a locomotive fire-box, a tender provided with a gravity discharge passage, a chute and forwarding means he neath the tender whereby the fuel is forwarded to the fire-box, a piston working transversely of the passage, a sliding door beneath the said piston, and means for operating the door. i

8. In combination in apparatus for supplying coal to a locomotive fire-box, a tender provided with a gravity discharge openmg, a reciprocatory closure member therebeneath, a reciprocatory feed plate between said discharge opening and the closure member provided with an opening extending through the plate and registering with the said discharge opening when the plate is in retracted position, and extending out past the closure member to permit the discharge of thefuel when the plate is in forward position, means for moving the closure member to regulate the discharge of fuel, and a chute and forwarding means beneath the closure member. I a

9. In combination in apparatus for supplying coal to a locomotive fire-box, a tender provided with a gravity discharge-opening, a closure member therebeneath, a reciprocatory feed plate between the said discharge opening and the closure member provided with. a plurality of openings spaced apart and extending through the plate, and all registering with the said discharge opening at the same time when the plate is in retracted position and extending out past the closure member to permit the discharge of fuel when the plate is in forward position, means for reciprocating the plate, and a chute with forwarding means beneath each opening in the plate in position to receive the fuel forwarded in the openings through the plate.

10. In combination in apparatus for supplying coal to a locomotive fire-box, a tender providedv with a single gravity discharge opening, a closure member therebeneath, a

reciprocatory feed plate between the closure,

member and the discharge opening provided with a plurality of transverse receiving means extending through the plate and all registering with the said opening when the plate is in retracted position and extending out past the closure member when the plate is in forward position, means for reciproeating the plate, and a plurality of chutes in position to receive the fuel forwarded in the said a receiving means, the discharge opening, receiving means and chutes being insubstantial vertical alinement. r

11. In combination in apparatus for supplying coal to a locomotive firebox, a tender provided with a vertical gravity discharge passage, a piston working. across such passage, a lateral discharge passage in alinement with the end of the piston and leading from the vertical assa c a slidin closure a: a h plate lying beneath the vertical discharge passage andclosing such passage when in retracted position, means for moving the closure plate forward from such retracted position to prevent a downward discharge of the coal forced through the lateral discharge passage, and a forwarding means for a receiving the'coal located beneath the closure plate.

12. In "combination in apparatus for supplying coal to a locomotive firebox, a tender 7 to prevent a downward discharge of the coal 7 forced through the lateral discharge passage, and a forwarding means for receiving the coal located beneath the closure plate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in thepresence of the two subscribed witnesses.

CHARLES YOUNG.

Witnesses: i

JAMES C. BRADLEY, DOERING BELLINGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing" the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

